My Photography Gear
As a passionate architectural and interior photographer, capturing the timeless beauty of the world's most beautiful spaces and iconic city streets demands not only skill and creativity but also the right set of tools.
In this blog post, let's delve into the gear that accompanies me on this visual journey. For the purpose of transparency and unbiased insights, it's important to note that this article is not sponsored by any specific brands; the information shared is based solely on personal experience and expertise in the field of architectural photography.
Camera
At the core of my gear arsenal is the Sony A7R4. Its high resolution and exceptional low-light performance enable me to capture the intricate details of architecture in every condition. It's fairly small, robust, and light, has all of the practical advantages of a mirrorless camera, and gives you access to a whole range of Zeiss lenses. My previous cameras were a Sony A7R and a Canon 6D.
Lenses
This is where it gets more interesting! Like most architectural and interior photographers, I use a series of Tilt-Shift lenses that provide unique control over the plane of focus and perspective distortion.
I don't use the tilt, but the shift, on the other hand, allows the lens to be shifted parallel to the image plane. This corrects perspective distortion that commonly occurs when photographing tall buildings or architectural structures. Instead of tilting the camera up to capture a tall subject, the lens can be shifted to maintain straight lines and a natural perspective.
It also allows for panoramic stitching by taking multiple shots with the lens shifted on each side. This allows me to double the pixel density of the image. By stitching two images of 64mp in a 3/2 format, I get a 128mp image in a 4/3 format. This is great when photographing interiors from a high vantage point, and to avoid parallax issues, I use a Rogetti TSE Frame.
I personally use the Tilt-shift TS-E lenses from Canon, with a Metabones Sony adapter:
The 24mm is my favorite for interiors; it is very sharp and gives amazing results.
The 50mm is fantastic for vignettes and exteriors.
The 17mm is one that I use much less and only take out of the bag out of pure necessity.
I used to shoot with a Canon 17-40mm when first starting out and remember dreaming of those TS-E lenses. They are indeed pricey, and you need a few as they're fixed, but I can't recommend these enough if you are serious about architecture and interior photography. I would recommend starting with a used 24mm and working from there.
Finally, I do own one Sony Zeiss lens, the 70-200mm F/4, for details and more narrow compositions.
Tripod
It's said "your sharpest lens is a tripod," and I couldn't agree more! I probably shoot 90% of my images with a tripod. Its stability is invaluable, especially during low-light conditions or when aiming for long-exposure shots. It ensures each frame is crisp and clear, contributing to the overall quality of my architectural compositions. It also helps get the camera leveled, which is a necessity when shooting with my Tilt-Shift lenses.
I use a Manfrotto Carbon 055 with a 410 micrometric head.
Camera Bag
My camera bag is not just a practical carrier but a carefully chosen accessory that keeps my gear organized, secure, and easily accessible during on-location shoots. I use the Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L. I love the overall quality of the bag, the zips, and the accessibility of everything.
Other accessories include a Peak Design strap, bubble levels, cleaning kit, and lighting equipment.
Computer and Editing Tools
In the post-production phase, my preferred software is Adobe Lightroom Classic with Photoshop.
I use an Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with a Huawei Mateview 28.4-inch screen and Lacie hard drives.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to contact me.